2 Challenges in Breeding and Genetics

Abstract

Abstract Over the past 50 years tremendous advances were made in reproductive and genetic technologies that are available for beef cow-calf producers. In addition, extensive research has been done to establish the efficacy and economic advantages of adoption of such technologies. Nonetheless, adoption of reproductive and genetic technologies in beef cow-calf operations remain poor, especially when compared with dairy production. The USDA – National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) performs a survey of cow-calf management practices, with the latest survey performed in 2017. According to the NAHMS survey the majority (58.7%) of cow-calf operations in the U.S. do not have a defined breeding season, with 69.5% of operations in the southeast (SE) failing to adopt a defined breeding season. Reproductive technology adoption is poor, with only 37.5% of all operations utilizing at least one reproductive technology, with 78.1% of larger operations (>200 cows) utilizing at least one reproductive technology, compared with 30.4% of small operations (< 50 cows). Semen evaluation was the leading technology with 19.7% overall adoption, followed by palpation for pregnancy with 19.3%, artificial insemination with 11.6% and estrus synchronization with only 7.3%. The SE is behind the rest of the country on adoption of technology with only 22.1% of the operations adopting at least one reproductive technology, with the North-Central region leading the country with 58.3% of operations adopting at least one reproductive technology. Nationally, most heifers and nearly all cows were exposed only to bulls (76.8 and 92.9 %, respectively), with a greater percentage of heifers (15.1 %) than cows (5.5 %) being artificially inseminated and followed by natural service breeding. A total of 90.7% of all beef females were exposed to natural service only, clearly demonstrating that artificial insemination is not widely adopted by U.S. beef operations. Veterinary consultation also remains below expectations, with only 52.8% of operations consulting a veterinarian every year, and disease diagnosis and treatment being the most common reason (37.3%). The East U.S. remains behind the rest of the country with only 41% of beef operations consulting a veterinarian on a yearly basis. When making decisions about breeding and genetics, 21.5% of producers rated Extension services as slightly useful and 22.6% rated Veterinarians as very useful, with most (23.6) producers consulting other producers. Adoption of reproductive and genetic technologies remains below expectations for the entire U.S. with the East and SE regions lagging behind the rest of the country. Perhaps the fact that the vast majority (84.2% in the U.S., and 89.9% in East) of beef cow-calf producers list their operations as a supplemental source of income remains the most difficult challenge to increase adoption of technologies.